Improved method of making solid collodion



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. HYATT, JR., OF ALBANY, NEW YORK, AND ISAIAH S. HYATT, 0FROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVED METHOD OF MAKING- SOLID COLLODION.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 91,341, dated June 15,1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN W. HYATT, Jr., of the city of Albany, in theState of New York, and ISAIAH S. HYATT, of the city of tockford, in theState of Illinois, have invented a new and useful'Method of Making SolidGollodion, or compounds of pyroxyline; and we do hereby declare thefollowing specification to be a true and exact description of the natureof our invention.

Our convention consists of a new and improved method of manufacturingsolid collodion and its compounds; its essential feature being theemployment: of a very small quantity of ether or other appropriatesolvent, and dissolving pyroxyline therewith, under a heavy pressure, sothat a comparatively hard and solid product is obtained, with greateconomy of solvents and saving of time.

The following description will enable'others skilled in the art to useour process:

We place soluble cotton, pyroxyline, or prepared cellulose into a strongcylinder or suitably-shaped mold. With the pyroxyline may be mixedivory-dust, bone-dust, asbestus, flake-white, or any other desirablesubstance, according to the nature of the product required.

This compound is then pressed into a tolerably compact mass by means ofa plunger in the cylinder, or by a movable part of the mold. The plungerto said cylinder or part of the mold is then retracted to give room forthe ether or other solvent. The proportion of solvent to the pyroxylineis as five to ten, seven to ten, or equal parts, by weight, according tothe nature and proportions of the compound. When the pyroxylineis usedalone, from one-half to three-fourths, by weight, of solvent will besuificient but when ivorydust or other material is added, a somewhatgreater proportion-of solvent will be required, which can readily bedetermined by trial. After the plunger to the cylinder or part of themold has been retracted, as aforesaid, the

solvent is poured or forced in through a hole, which is then closed, andthe plunger or movable part of the mold is immediately forced.

against the contents with great power-a pressure of from five to twentytons per square inch being required to produce the best re-' sults.

The pressure must be applied quickly, so that the solvent will be forcedinto contact with every particle of the pyroxyline before the dissolvingprocess has time to commence. This, however, may be varied according tothe degree of activity of the solvent employed. The cylinder or moldmust be made or packed to work so closely that none of the solvent canescape the pressure. Other mechanical means may be employed equivalentto the foregoing, and we do not confine ourselves to the preciseapparatus described.

The product is then taken out of the cylinder or mold, and will be foundto be hard and solid, of uniform quality throughout, and liable to onlya very slight degree of shrinkage, because of the very small proportionof volatile elements which it contains.

After the solid compound thus formed is taken out of the cylinder ormold, and before it thoroughly seasons, we subject it, in themanufacture of many articles, to additional pressure in molds, wherebyit is caused to conform perfectly with all the configurations of themold.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. Dissolving pyroxyline under pressure, substantially as described.

2. Dissolving pyroxyline under pressure, when combined with ivory-dustor other ma.- terial, substantially as described.

JOHN w. HYATT, JR. ISAIAH s. HYATT.

Witnesses HENRY Burn, 0. M. HYATT.

